Thursday, July 31, 2008

It was a rare sunny day during Berlin’s Fashion Week – and the glossy German read GALA (part of the European Gruner & Jahr Media giant’s empire) threw a fabulous party for city officials, celebs, fashion week attendees, and anyone else who could score a coveted invite.

The buffet was beyond delicious…with hot and cold tables, indoors and out, laden with fresh seafood, hot meat and chicken entrees, pastries, salads, and enough cheeses to make the French envious---- in addition to what can be considered upscale breakfast eats. The champagne flowed and there was even a special espresso bar for the caffeine addicted.

We had a nice chat with Katja Reising- one of the several Maybelline NY make-up artists who graciously staffed the kiosks…and offered free touchups and full blown maquillage redos. We opted for (needed) the latter…

Tips From Katja Reising:

German pencils made by Faber Castell, branded for several companies-are the best.White eyeliner applied inside rim wakes up the face.Put neutral tone concealer on lips before applying lip liner.In Germany-big blue navy liner on lids close next to lashes is popular way to make eyes pop.Just powder the T-Zone triangle for a half matte/half glowing look that’s healthy looking.

Next, we had a hair styled beyond belief by the congenial Gerrit Schulz-Bennewitz curling it up for L'Oreal-who we met backstage at the Eastpak show. He teased and coiled our tresses for over an hour, recreating the hairdos used in the Stella McCartney Lookbook Fall 2008 –that was shot during Paris Fashion Week.

Plus we got the inside scoop on the Berlin vs. Dusseldorf girl…the former has an individual haircut that is edgy, and wears a lot of black garb (no kidding). Dusseldorf ladies are more blingy, more into logo labels...and wear more colorful garb.

We missed the free shoulder/neck massages by Garnier denizens…but chatted with others we met and made lots of new BFFs forever.

We wish we could attend but urge anyone in that beautiful part of the country to attend what is sure to be a fun time for childfree hipsters and families alike.

What: The two-day Outdoors in Mammoth Environmental Festival is themed “Summit to the Sea - Everything is Connected.” The event will be a fun and interactive opportunity for families to explore the mountains and discover the role they each play in building a responsible tomorrow.

Through field trips and hands-on experiences, the event aims to spread realization that land and sea, humans and nature, and the present and future are all connected. The event will demonstrate that every individual - regardless of age - can make intelligent decisions that have a powerful impact on the environment.

Where & When: Mammoth Lakes, CA - August 5 & 6, 2008

Why: An opportunity to celebrate Mammoth’s unique place in the mountains by raising awareness through communication, education, and action of each individual’s responsibility to our environment. Activities: The focus will be hands-on activities with short journeys to lakes, creeks, hot springs, and mountains. Examples of morning, afternoon, and evening activities include: • Hiking to the summit source of our drinking water to understand healthy water quality • Adventuring into nature with the Paiute Indians to understand how they have dwelled sustainably for thousands of years • Investigating the local hot springs to gain knowledge of the natural energy sources • Watching a thought-provoking film under the stars • Enjoying an open-air dinner conversation with renown environmental ambassador, Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of the legendary Jacques Cousteau.

Website: Please visit www.outdoorsinmammoth.com for more information on the Schedule of Events, Festival Packages, Lodging Deals, and Online Registration

We’ve attended Strenesse’s runway show in New York (for the F/W 2006 collection)…so we knew to expect savvy, WELL-CUT ensembles by this Germany based label.

THE BRAND: Gabrielle Strehe has worked her magic for years…with Strenesse’s successful debut on a Milan catwalk in 1995. Think ‘affordable’designer separates and daywear for a client who demands pulled together looks for the office …and will not tolerate sloppiness on days off either.

STRENESSE BLUE: The secondary line is geared towards a younger client with means. Meaning, not club kids but like Michael Kors secondary line, tailored on trend, sophisticated dresses, tops, and pants.WOMEN: We loved the largely neutral tone collection. Punched up a bit, we found the printed red/white skirt paired with a pointed collared red blouse, with a sensible belt and chunky sandals, contemporary without looking too school marmish.

These were not sexy secretary looks---but proper, well-made linen trousers with fitted blouses, sharp suit jackets with defined shoulders, and a detailed seamed long linen dress with pockets that fitted the body...and was urbane not breezy BOHO.

The frilliest ensemble we saw was an ethnic indigo/black handkerchief hem top with matching skirt---that still managed to be sharp.Overall the impeccable silhouettes seemed inspired by stereotypical menswear looks with touches of 70’s YSL thrown in.

The interchangeable pants and shirts pieces would easily integrate into any man’s wardrobe –whether the guy lives on the posh Upper East Side of Manhattan, or dines at the outdoor cafés of Paris, Athens or Capri.

Unrath and Strano is a clothing brand worthy of the debonair audience that turned out for the runway show. For S/S 09 their second “Celebrity” line and a few mens’ looks debuted on the catwalk---joining their designer priced collection.

BACKSTORY: German Klaus Unrath and Italian (via Switzerland) Ivan Strano launched their eponymous line (1999) after stints with the glorious Vivienne Westwood labels. Both are skilled tailors who know how to drape, twist and fit the materials to perfection.

THE SHOW: A largely red/black/white palette of colorfully splattered swirling, stripped and solid luxe fabrics that reminded us of the drama of Italian maestro Robert Cavalli. We loved the signature sleeves-one side cap, the other side sensuously twisted-for an interesting and sensuous look that reveals a women’s clavicle but is not too va-va-voom.

There were a few overtly sexy pieces like an above the knee clingy pink dress-with a deeply draped neck- with gathered side seams-that had a few editors sniffing “…for the Russian wives…” ( a comment, we found hilarious). There was also a glam pink maillot swimsuit---prehaps destined for those Russian owned Benedettis.

Guys were all in black…with loose drawstring pants and a show the chest hair black v-neck tee beneath a tuxedo like jacket with double pocket flaps on one side...and one flap on the other that was elegantly casual. Casual casual was a tight tight tight black denim-ish pants with matching safari-like jacket with white stitching. CELEB FAN: OLYMPIC WINNER KATRINA WITTFUN AFTER-PARTY: At Weekend-that was jammed.

THE MAN: Michael Michalsky is a veteran of the London club scene, did a stint with LEVI’S…and worked his way up to the coveted role of global creative director at Adidas. His visionary collaboration with Yohji Yamamoto- kicking out the fierce Y-3 line…and his role as former creative light of the brand MCM…gave him the solid experience to successfully launch his own line in June 2006...and to give birth to an eyewear collection (and other licenses) this year.The scene prior to the show at another one of those mammoth industrial spaces in the former East Berlin-that we would never have gotten to without one of those can we bring one home, chauffer driven Mercedes-Benz cars-was shivering with anticipation.

Seriously, every editor and photographer we spoke with felt that the Michalsky brand is set for a worldwide bust out. Watch out Diesel...and former employer.INSPIRATION: Michalsky sited the 40th anniversary of the tumultuous summer of ’68 that saw European cities under heavy student protests. He also referenced the summer of Love (’67) in hippy worthy prints and iconic graphics scooped up from the early 80’s peace movement in Germany…before THE WALL came down.

THE SHOW: The well-paced show of 54 looks was styled by a seasoned eye. It was chock full of wearable, modern clothes that any cosmopolitan dweller would want.Though largely a dark navy/crisp white/black palette, Michalsky also worked in whimsical prints and funky checks in bright turquoise, lime green and”hot fuchsia pink” colors that kept it summer appropriate.

Marcel Ostertag's pulled together models wore an adroit pastiche of BOHO print dresses mixed up with chic beige separates...that reminded us of a Donna Karan show with dabs of McQueen/Galliano’s expert tailoring mixed in.

THE DESIGNER: No wonder the runway performances were so FINISHED…Marcel Ostertag is a graduate of University of Arts/Central St. Martins College in London-with laboring stints at top-notch fashion houses Paul Smith, Dunhill and Burberry.

THE COLLECTION: Joining the Menwear looks-a handsome bunch of black/grey/white separates… are some very well made playful summer… and serious urbanite polished looks for ladies that referenced the late 70’s (think Lauren Hutton/Ali McGraw).

Ostertag also makes use of exotic materials like feathers-as in painstakingly applied to a trench coat that we tried on at the Premium tradeshow-and could have flown away in.

A neutral, creamy beige with yellow hints ruled sophisticated safari/military jackets and gathered tops accessorized with wide leather belts will probably be seen on the streets of London, Paris and London. Plus, we saw ourselves living in the cropped and full-length pants with pockets that lay perfectly flat to flatter.

Knockouts also included a lace over-layed on a puffy, belted mini dress and iridescent pearl fringes on a downright flappery sheath.